304 



HISTORY OF OHIO. 



of some sort, to where they have one there.* Ours are 

 itinerants, each one officiating in several neighborhoods. 

 This is owing to our great number of religious sects. We 

 speak of Ohio. We have swarms of missionaries from the 

 Atlantic cities, and from our own, consisting of Cumber- 

 land Presbyterians, Campbellites, Catholics, &c., all in mo- 

 tion, to build up their various sects; but they all move forward 

 in peace, and in a good degree of harmony. We see no evils 

 growing out of all these sects, except it be, that the people 

 are not able to support all this host of ministers. Fewer of 

 them, and those well qualified for their missions, would be a 

 vast improvement. If the people were divided into one half 

 the sects to which they now belong, and would be contented 

 with one half the preachers we now have laboring among 

 us; and if the other half of our preachers, would travel 

 farther west, and officiate there, a great deal of good might 

 be done, by this improvement, in our religious matters. The 

 people of the east, need not mourn over our destitute state, 

 as to preaching, because we have ten sermons to their 

 one, in proportion to our numbers. There is scarcely a day 

 in the year but there is preaching of some sort, in every town 

 of any size in the state. We by no means, say that we have 

 too much preaching, but we do say that there is no want of 

 it in Ohio. 



That there is a prejudice against all preachers in this 

 and all other states, is certainly true, but so far as we are 

 acquainted with them, and we know them well, we are 

 compiled to say, that our clergymen in Ohio, especially 

 those who have lived here ever since our first settlement, de- 

 serve unqualified praise for their zeal, and good works. No 

 men in this state have been so useful in building up society, 

 in making us a moral and truly religious people. Their dis- 

 interestedness and benevolence, their kindness, forbearance 

 and charity, zeal, industry and perseverance in well doing, 



*The Presbyterians and protestant episcopalians need more ministers, and 

 have many churches without being able to supply them at present. Our re- 

 marks do npt apply to ihera. 



